COME TO JESUS ~ Wednesday

Good Morning!

Well..I have been away for a few weeks. I had a quick decision to make 3 weeks ago to come visit my folks in the Seattle area and ended up missing 2 Wednesdays...then I don't do the adjustments coming home well and have come down with the flue or cold. But today, even tho I am late getting this in I wanted to contribute.

With the recent Gloom and Doom of our economy and Wall Street and in my own life the loss of a job for my hubby I draw comfort daily from my Lord. I know that these are just storms in life that we go through. And I also know who is holds my hand all the way. So I found this verse today about God's unfailing love that is all around me and you and wanted to share it with you.

Isaiah 54:10

"Though the mountains be shaken

and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken

nor my covenant of peace be removed."

says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

WOW, those words really hit home for me. Our world is being shaken up right now..but GOD has an unfailing love for you and me. I love that through all of this he promises a covenant PEACE. A peace that can pass any of our own understanding. And to know that GOD has compassion for us is just priceless.

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At the top right you will find this beautiful sign telling you of a wonder group of gals joining in on First Fridays, just click on this sign. First Fridays consists of sellers who have blogs, web sights and many other means of selling their wonderful wares. Thanks to Rhea of Sweet*n*Shabby*Roses who is our host for this event! This month we will be holding our sales 2 days, October 3rd and 24th. Also, the entire month of November fridays we will have our sales going for those you who enjoy shopping on-line for the Holidays.

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This sweet sign was made by Rhea of First Fridays, isn't it the most adorable sign EVER?!!! If you click on my sign to the right it will take you directly to my selling blog. I'd love for you to visit and leave me a comment of what you think.

Have a blessed day...Lorena

PINK Saturday ~ A Calm Master Retreat

Another PINK Saturday is upon us! Thank you Bev of How Sweet the Sound...our host, be sure to check out the other many PINK lover participants!

I can't believe how fast the week flew by. I have been very busy cleaning a dust bunny convention that decided to reside under my LARGE King Size bed...OH my!!! That of course inspired to me really look at our room and come up with a fresh new LOOK. With the help of some very dear on-line friends, my PRH group on ebay...I think I have come up with a calm, cool and cottage victorian retreat for my dh and I.

While our room is blues and whites...there are touches of PINK everywhere...and roses of course!

Two of the biggest changes were just changing out the cover on my bed and adding one to our sofa. Now this is a HUGE room with a cathedral ceiling. Our bed is king sized and it looks small..so I have always had a challenge to make everything look comfy, cozy and not lost in the room.
Okay...I confess...we have a TV in our room and a treadmill ( I need 4 big strong men to move it the treadmill to the basement, which ain't happening soon!lol). So I am trying my best to work with what I have. Do you see touches of pink?
This biggest OVERALL change I made was to our curtains. I had a darker blue topper and matching side panels that I took down. I added a lacy topper and some sheers to even things out and I am very pleased with the lighter airy look it gives. But that makes it harder for me to get a good pictures, thus, my UGLY treadmill. But I do use it! lol
I almost forgot I had these shutters! When I angled this dresser it just needed a backdrop to help your eye rest, it does the trick. This was fun dressing up with a collar collection and all of my other goodies. I know, I do like my little STUFF!
Those are my chenille bedspread collection.
This is my wedding dress and hat. I also had some cute little hats that I redid with touches of pink to put on this shelf. The sweet strawberry sachet and purse were made by my dear friend Connie. This picture is a very pretty card that I added some lace to and then put it on a pale blue card stock with a painted frame.
As you can see..no corner or TV is left bare....I am thinking of disguising this...any ideas? Also, the mirror is a wonderful old antique that has beveled edging, and real carving all around it. It has a neat story...many years ago my parents bought an old iron bed, dresser and this mirror. They had many coats of paint. My mom gave them to me when I was a teenager and we redid my room then. Well...many years later a friend who worked in the refinishing business took this and got all the paint off. He then got it to look like this! It is a prized possesson!
Oh..I forgot..that sweet handpainted rose plate was snagged for $4 on a junking trip with my mother last week in Seattle! What a steal that was!
A closer look of the shelf goodies.


I am so happy with the over all look of this room. Wish you could all see it! This room is very hard to get an overall feel for due to its size and the fact that I cannot get one picture of the entire room. So hopefully you can at least get a good feel for my PINKness that I dabbled around the room.


Happy PINK...Lorena

Roses for my MOM Rose

When I knew I was visiting my mom she told me to bring my brushes. You See, if you don't already know...my mom is ROSE. My favorite flower to paint! She had something for me to paint...lol....Bless her, she is my most ardant and faithful fan and supporter. I can see my progress as a rose artist by the things she has collected from me over the past few years. What she asked me to do was paint some roses as a backdrop or border around her kitchen work area. I told her I really felt sweet clusters of roses would be so much easier on the eye...and she agreed! I was so happy to oblidge!

So Sorry about the blurriness of this, this is above her kitchen window.
A sweet corner met with a rose swags!
This is the area above her stove as you can see!
And a close up of that same shot above her stove.
My mom, Rose...Don't they have a lovely home!

Thanks for stopping in...Lorena

GIVEAWAYS!

One of the sweetest gals in blogland is celebrating her 100th post. Its Sherry at Eddie Maries Attic. Be sure to take a peek at her blog! She is one of my favorites, sweet, warm, inspirational and also a wonderful decorator too. CONGRATULATIONS SHERRY!

I'M HOME!!! Some Pinkness!

I am back home from a 9 day visit to Seattle. I was so happy to be able to visit and see my family there. And always happy to come home to my sweet family and BED! Does anyone else miss there bed when they go! I sure do!

I didn't join this weeks PINK Saturday but I thought I'd go back and pick a few pink goodies I either have taken pictures of or made to for sale. Be sure if you see my blog to check out the other PINK Saturday participants...hosted by Beverly of How Sweet the Sound cause you won't be disappointed!





Blessing to you all!

Lorena

Stranded In Seattle (Not a bad thang!)

Hi friends...well I spent the day Tuesday at the airport trying to get on a plane standby. Only to find a backlog due to the recent hurricane. Today, Wednesday, it looked bleak to even get a flight out again...so I will get up early Thursday to try again. I can't complain..more time with my family and the weather is GREAT!!! I am missing my family so would like to get home soon.

I'll keep ya posted!

Blessings...Lorena

Leaving On a JET Plane

Morning my sweet blogging friends. I wanted to let you all know where I am. I found out Sunday evening that I was leaving 6 a.m. Tuesday morning for a much needed visit home, to Seattle. I didn't have much time to think...let alone pack or prepare a Come to Jesus Post...When I return next week I will be back on my normal blog schedule. I am visiting my Dad and Mom and sisters. But I will leave you will a wonderful verse my mom has by her computer.

Psalms 50:15
Call upon ME in the day of trouble:

I will deliver you,and youshall glorify ME.

God Bless you! Lorena

PINK Saturday ~ September 6, 2008

Its PINK Saturday again! Be sure to check out Beverly of How Sweet the Sound for all of the other many participants who enjoy sharing their PINK with you!

WELCOME BACK FOR PART 2:
Last week I showed a number of vinettes around my home and teased you with the fact that Part 2 would be this week...so here goes! Hope you enjoy...these are from my Master Bedroom!
THis is a vase that once was Peach in color and I redid it in PINKS!
Doncha just love those sweet shoes? They are made of plaster of paris and were painted by me...let me explain..when my daughter was younger we had a fun place in our area to go and paint up little pieces. So when I took her...I of course had to paint something and what better for the shoe lover in me but to paint these sweet shoes!
A favorite handpainted plate with a sweet posie bouquet!
This tea cup of roses sits upon a mis-matched cup saucer..another reuse of older items.

A sweet mannequin form..but my favs are the Hair keeper that is handpainted and the Lady Head vase I found for only $3 at the Salv Army..she's a bit chipped at the bottom..but that doesn't matter to me!
Hope you enjoyed my Part 2 of Vinette...Happy PINK!!!
Lorena

FIRST FRIDAYS ~ SEPTEMBER 5, 2008

On September 5th Rhea of Sweet*n*Shabby Roses is starting a new way to sell on your blogs...She is hosting First Friday's. All are welcome to join in for this once a monthly time of fun. Be sure to click on the sweet Aqua and Rose icon to my right to see this weeks participants for our First time of First Friday...and for more information on how you can join in on our next First Friday
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TODAY'S MY BIRTHDAY!

I was born on 9-5-59...isn't that amazing! Now, I don't really go around broadcasting yet again another BIRTHDAY...but I was so humbled today by the many sweet people I know who took the time to show in such sweet ways that they care. I took some pictures of the wonderful goodies I received from family and from the mail today. A great BIG thank you too ALL of you for caring and thinking of me today.

My sweet hubby took my to breakfast at Cracker Barrel this morning. I just love their potatoe casserole they serve with breakfast..and their yummy biscuits! It is also such a fun place to shop in their general store..they always have the cutest stuff! This year I got to pick out my gifts early. One was a gorgeous silver and real pink coral bracelet from a favorite vendor who attends the annual Plymouth, MI Art in the Park. Then I got a COACH pouch purse at the Outlet Store for $60....now that's a steal in my book for Coach. Plus I have one of the sweet men in my life who don't get paying hundreds of dollars for a purse, so for him to get this for me was extra special...I have been using ever since I got it in July!


Then yesterday I spent with my dearest friend in Michigan, Susie...and what makes it so special is we SHARE a Birthday...yep our birthdays are the same. She is a few years older than I but is like a sister to me we are such a kindred spirits...we both share so many things in common along with our birthday. SO...we spent the day thrifting and have lunch together! She themed her gifts with many frangrant lavender items...I wish you all could smell them!

Bertie...you are a dear. Oh you must stop by her web sit..she makes the night light covers and sachets...and they are just dreamy..and she also sent the prettiest Victorian cards of girls, another fav of mine along with bath petals...can't wait to use them! I am so fond of frofrou Victorian! Thank you Bertie!

Then there's Katie....what a character she it! I just love her spunk and zeal for life and she is gifted and talented in so many ways, she sews, does hand work, paints and oh so much more! She lives on the most amazing little farm that we often hear cute stories about the animals that reside there. Especially her baby kitties..who I would love to just squeaze and cuddle with! She made me the most beautiful magnet. The roses are made with coffee filters I believe..and then she glittered up the edges..Oh this is so pretty! Thank you sweet Katie!
Last but NEVER least is Karen. Karen is another funny, sweet and very talented gal as well. She sent the most beautiful tag she made I am sure, and it has the prettiest envelope. But I also wanted you to see the card..it is JUST gorgeous. I am framing this one and finding a special place for it! Thank you Karen!!!


See what I was talking about..my cup runneth over. God has blessed me today in so many special ways. I can only hope to be that to others as well!

Have a great day! Blessings..Lorena

COME TO JESUS ~ Wednesday September 3, 2008

Thanks for stopping in today. Our hostest is Jan of Jan and Tom's Place...be sure to check out her blog for others who participate in our weekly Come to Jesus, post.

Are you a Martha or a Mary?

Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the LORD's feet listenting to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord replied, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is BETTER, and it will not be taken away from her."

I had the opportunity a while back to be involved in a team that was doing mission work. We were involved in decorating homes and rooms for women that were involved in a recovery program. It was 4 very long days of working but very rewarding...during this time I had a co-worker say in a joking way I basically wasn't carrying my weight. Now, I knew that this was not true but those words stuck and hurt...Now I do remember that I took many opportunities and time with one of the gals who lived in the home we were working in. I could sense she was curious and really was trying to get to know us. I am sure that was what was being referred to. Well I carried those hurt feelings for many months but knew it was wrong...so I began to ask God to help me let these go.

Then, GOD is only HE can do, began to softly work in my heart. For many month God he kept bring up references to Martha and Mary's story. But of course I had never connected these to my situation. Then my mom said something to me about being a Mary and FINALLY her words began to sink in. God used her words to gently speak to my heart. He said to me... its okay to let go of your hurt...you were being a Mary back then, when many around you were being Martha's. At that point all of my hurt was released.

I really wanted to share about this because too often we get caught up in the "doing" and do not doing enough of the just sitting a Jesus' feet. Martha was so busy trying to get things done and food on the table that she missed Jesus or an opportunity to minister to others. As her resentment grew..she was lashing out at Mary for NOT carrying her weight...and Jesus' reply probably caught Martha off guard. He explained that what Mary was doing was far more important. Sometimes in our journey we get wrapped up in the busyiness of life and often miss the opportunities to sit at Jesus' feet. That might mean ministering to a sick person, listening and reaching out to an unlovely person or crying with someone who is mentally hurting.

For me I can now take this whole experience and know that it IS okay to be a Mary and even a Martha when those times are needed. I need to be available to help out and get things done..but be I need to be sure not miss the Mary in in whatever I may experience.

Hope this will be encouraging for you today. Blessings...Lorena